12 Feb 2026
A much-anticipated talk on the urban caracals of the Cape Peninsula - in their very own neighbourhood
On 12 February 2026, Prof Jacqueline Bishop, an evolutionary ecologist and conservation biologist with the Urban Caracal Project (UCP), gave a presentation on the urban caracal population of the Cape Peninsula at the Welcome Glen Farmhouse in Glencairn, near Simon's Town.
The event was a sell-out - which stands to reason, as there are numerous sightings of caracals in the Peninsula area. Due to the local extinction of the Cape leopard, the caracal has assumed the role of apex predator in the Deep South. The talk showed maps of GPS tagged caracals in the area, showing their movements from the beaches of Noordhoek to the highly risky crossing of the Glencairn Expressway.
The real strength of this talk is that it gives us a clear way to help caracals, both here on the Peninsula and in other places where they live. Research from the Urban Caracal Project shows how much human activity and development actually hurt these cats. Because they are at the top of the food chain, poisons from factories, power plants, and farms build up in their bodies through everything they eat. While we can’t change these big industrial systems overnight, we can still make a massive difference right now by simply being careful about the use of pesticides.
Unfortunately, the main cause of caracal deaths on the Peninsula is vehicle collisions when they cross busy roads, which often serve as their only thoroughfares between mountains and protected areas (as is the case for the Glencairn Expressway). Knowing this, we can raise awareness by reducing speed, staying alert for wildlife, and being particularly careful in areas marked by bright (guerrilla) signs indicating hotspots for caracal sightings or road fatalities. We have the power to be more mindful of the Peninsula caracals.
See you at the next one!
